[alberg30] Traveler

[FINNUS505 at aol.com]

From: FINNUS505 at aol.com

Hi again, Dick,
That sounds like a custom arrangement you have for a main traveler, a design 
that was on many of the boats I grew up sailing on, which were from the 
30's!!  For a traveler to be any good at giving you sail shape control, 
particularly leachcontrol, you have to be able to control where the car is on 
the traveler.  Conceivably, you could change the ring for a nylon sheave that 
rolls, to decrease friction, and then mount control lines either side; 
turning blocks at the ends of the traveler, and cam cleats forward to control 
the traveler lines.
If you want to get rid of the SS bar completely, and go to a modern system, 
Harken sells a complete kit, with all the blocks, cars and track you need.  
Look in the West Marine Catalogue for prices.  All the sailboat hardware 
manufacturers have their own systems and prices.  We hit the Fawcets (in 
Annapolis) presidents sale a couple of years ago, and got the Harken system 
for a little over 100 bucks, when it usualy sells for closer to 300.  
Probably wouldn't have updated the system without that sale!! Stargazer still 
had the original triangle mainsheet arrangement when we got her, complete 
down to the original composite blocks and three strand mainsheet!!

Having an efficient, friction free main traveler is a pleasure.  In light 
air, by raising the car to windward of center, then centering the boom with 
the mainsheet, you can get the leach to do whatever you want, when beating.  
In heavy air, you can play the traveler in the puffs, which is really nice, 
too.
Hope this helps,
Lee
Stargazer #255

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